<p>have you read any used bicycle ad in Craiglist lately? I just want to buy an used bicycle to get a little more exercise. But all these technical terms are making things difficult. </p>
<p>For example, here is part of one ad
-Dura Ace 7800 Shifters
-Dura Ace 7800 Front Derailleur
-Dura Ace 7800 Rear Derailleur
-Sram Force Crankset (53/39) 175mm
-Sram Rival Brakeset
-Alpha Q seat post
-BRAND NEW Bontrager Race Wheels
-Look Keo Pedals
-NEW Dura Ace Chain
-Bontrager RXL stem </p>
<p>From another one: FSA Crank, Carbon Fiber Rear, Left Fork, Juicy 7 breaks, CROSSMAX Rims.</p>
<p>Do I have to spend three hours at a bike shop to learn all these? I was told every shop only promote what they have on the floor. So they might not be very helpful for getting a used one on line. </p>
<p>I guess this is like you have to pick the C, E, or S class, then the 320 or 550 engine, then AMG or regular, and then the wulnut steering wheel or just leather. </p>
<p>I just want to get a bike to ride. Is there a quick and easy guide to read? Do I have to bring the one I am interested in to a shop to have it looked over?</p>
<p>These are all terms relating to the components on the bike. If someone is taking the trouble to list the components, this is almost certainly more bike than you need (and more money) to just ride around.</p>
<p>I would recommend that you look at a class of bike called a hybrid or cross bike. These have a straight handlebar and low gearing (triple ring in front) like a mountain bike, have a more upright seating position and fatter tires than a road bike (more comfortable ride, and you can ride them on dirt roads), and have a more comfortable seat. They sometimes have a light suspension (in the front fork only, for example, or maybe in the seat stem).</p>
<p>The type of bike you are looking for probably cost in the $300-400 range new, you can find them for less.</p>
<p>At this level, it doesn’t matter all that much who makes the gear shifters or whether you have a carbon graphite seat post to save 5 grams of weight.</p>
<p>Tires that are >2" width.
Wheels or tire sizes that are of <27" nominal diameter
Cranks, wheels that are steel.
Bottom brackets (where the crank bearings are housed) ~2" diameter
Shifters that look heavy because they are heavy
Tires that <1" width
BENT Wheels. Be sure to check if wheels wobble. A small wobble is OK and can be fixed.
Avoid buying mailorder. OK to buy a previously owned bike that was mail order if you have some simple mech skills. </p>
<p>Ignore much of the brand names for parts and bikes. The manufacturers make all grades of components and bike people mix parts ( I do). </p>
<p>Cro-mo (hi-tensil steel) bikes ride generally smoother than aluminum with a small sacrifice in weight. </p>
<p>I do garage sales for my bikes and often CL.
I also support my local bike shops.
Wear a helmet and carry a cell phone. If used, try before you buy. If new try many before you buy.</p>
<p>DadII, All those things are found on bikes for serious technical riders…not us regular people who just want to ride in the neighborhood or the park or to the store a couple of blocks away.</p>
<p>You need to do a little research to help figure out what kind of bike best fits your needs. Then you can be an educated shopper.</p>
<p>Go to the Web sites of different bike manufacturers. They will have pics and descriptions of their different models and what kind of rider/purpose they are suited for. </p>
<p>My family rides Trek bikes. I’ve read that Treks were the most popular brand in the USA. We have really enjoyed them. We are not road racers or mountain bikers. We mostly ride them on greenways, around the neighborhood, take them on vacations to explore the area, have ridden some rails to trails systems that were really fun. Nothing too strenuous. </p>
<p>Other brands to check out…Giant,Raleigh, GT, Specialized,Gary Fisher
They should all have websites to help you decide what type of bike you need.
Also, go to bike stores in your area. Some carry used bikes that are less expensive.
Even if you don’t buy there, they will be happy to point you toward the right bike for you.</p>
<p>I would advise against buying a bike fr. someplace like Target or WalMart. Most of those are not of very good quality. It is worth it in the long run to pay a little more and get a better quality bike that will be safe and you can enjoy for years.</p>
<p>thank you all very much. We learnt our lesson the hard way, buying bikes from Walmart because they seem to have a low cost. But those last one may be two years for our kids. So, I want something I could ride for a couple more year. </p>
<p>I had been looking at used Bianchi C2C and Cannondale SCALPEL etc. I guess those are a little too much bike for me.</p>
<p>If you’re looking for a road type bike (or even a hybrid bike), you may want to consider going to a bike store to get fitted; this will give you an idea of what size bike to look for and your measurements (there are factors like your arm length, leg length, torso length). This will avoid you buying a bike that is the wrong size for you and could lead to pain while riding. You could then correlate that with what’s on craigslist or what’s available in the bike shop used/entry level. A fitting shouldn’t be an obligation to buy.</p>
<p>I would also advise against buying from a big box store, and may even advise against buying a first bike from craigslist, unless you are sure that the seller knows what he/she is doing and isn’t going to sell you a bike that is either poorly maintained or doesn’t fit you.</p>
<p>I just got into cycling recently (because I hate running and wanted something I could do outside of the gym). I bought my road bike from a bike shop because I wanted to make sure my fit was absolutely right. I am currently in the process of buying a commuter bike off craigslist (I’m meeting the seller tomorrow), but from talking with the seller, I can tell that he regularly rehabs old bikes and does it the right way, and won’t be looking to rip me off with either an overpriced, poorly fitting, or poorly maintained bike.</p>
<p>Looks like the Scalpel is a mountain bike (which I wouldn’t really recommend unless you want to do off-road mountain biking), and the C2C is a road bike.</p>
<p>If you’re just looking to ride around the neighborhood, I might recommend either going with a hybrid or an older road bike (I think the 70s and 80s road bikes are pretty cool looking but that’s just me). If you’re looking to eventually up your mileage and do longer distances (I’m thinking at the very least 10+ miles), you might want to look at entry level new road bikes - these have aluminum bodies and maybe a carbon fiber fork.</p>
<p>It’s always good to “test ride” before buying. I’m not a serious cyclist by any means, but when H & I were buying new bikes a number of years ago, I had to try many, many bikes before finding one that fit me. The thing for me was how stretched out my arms were to reach the handlebars. With all the Treks I tried, my arms were over stretched, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to ride very far without being uncomfortable/in pain. I finally found a Giant hybrid that fit me perfectly. (It’s an added bonus that it’s a very cool purple color!)</p>
<p>I’m an old guy trying to get back into a little a fitness. I have a beautiful early 1980s Japan-made Fuji road bike – 12 speed, racing handlebars. Allow cranks. Nice bike. I just want to ride it around on the back roads for some exercise. I’m no Lance Armstrong wannabee.</p>
<p>It’s so uncomfortable, it’s a chore to ride. The dropped handlebars are for youngsters or experienced riders or at least guys with less of a belly and more of a limber back than I have. My biggest problem is that it doesn’t have low enough gearing to get up the hills without having work really hard. </p>
<p>If I were buying a bike today, I would look for a hybrid in the $350 to $600 (new) range. A hybrid is like a road bike (road tires, light weight, made for pavement or bike paths mostly), but with more upright straight handlebars and a triple gear set on the front (18 to 27 speeds) giving you some real stump puller low gears to ease up hills while you get in shape.</p>
<p>The tradeoff is that you won’t have the aerodynamics of the dropped racing bars for high speeds and you won’t have the multiple riding positions of dropped bars for 100 mile days in the saddle. You will have a bike that a lot more conducive to comfortable tooling around.</p>
<p>Take your time in getting a good helmet. I’ve discovered that even though the store may have 3 adult sizes, the helmets also comes in different internal shapes ( round heads, pin heads, ovals).</p>
<p>I have also discovered, as you get more proficient, that the seat is VERY Very Important. What worked for me early on, is now the worst seat. </p>
<p>Shop the GW and garage sales for tight fitting, athletic clothes. The clothes get expensive however DW buys the good stuff for me (wants me to be trim and fit) while I shop the thrifts for the Women’s fancier, more visible clothes. Buy the Most Shocking, and Most Visible clothes- helps to be seen by people who are in cars and trucks.</p>
<p>Dad II…kids are a lot rougher on their bikes than adults.</p>
<p>Most bike shops have a range of bikes from those for “serious” riders to the leisure rider. It sounds like you are a leisure rider. SO…head to a bike shop and tell them you are looking for a bike to ride around…no raciing, etc . I got a nice bike at the local bike shop for about $300…and it’s perfect for my weekend rides on the bike trails or the roads. It’s a hybrid…light enough but not those teeny narrow tires that are on a road bike and not the fatso ones on a mountain bike.</p>
<p>I would NOT buy a bike online unless you have first ridden one with exactly the same size frame, tires and adjustments. A bike that is the wrong size will NOT get used…and will be mighty uncomfortable. </p>
<p>But there is no reason to spend a HUGE amount of money. </p>
<p>Many bike shops have used bikes too.</p>
<p>Does your area have one of those little classified newspapers that sells everything? DH got a fabulous deal on a Trek road bike (DH is a serious rider)…and was able to test drive it before purchasing. Our little trading times has all kinds of bikes listed in it each week.</p>
<p>Dad II,
Go to a bike shop and tell them you’re looking for a hybrid bike or a comfort bike. You don’t need to buy right away, but a good bike shop will show you your range of options, then you can look around for a used one or buy new if you don’t find anything decent on the resale market. It sounds like you’re not looking for a serious road bike, just something to ride around town. Both hybrids and comfort bikes will have you in an upright position, more comfortable for us middle-aged casual bikers. The comfort bike has a wider, softer seat and wider tires for a smooth, comfortable (but slower) ride. The hybrid bike is a little sleeker and faster (though not racing fast or long-distance touring fast) but it also rides a little harder. Either will stand up well to city streets, which is what they’re designed for. I bike to work 8 miles each way when the weather permits—I don’t bike when it rains or snows or when the streets are icy. I’m using a comfort bike right now, and I’ve ridden hybrids in the past. For me, the added comfort of a comfort bike is worth the five minutes or so it adds to my commute. Definite trade-off, but it’s a matter of personal preference which way you go.</p>
<p>Dad II – i hope you successfully find a bike in which you can enjoy many, many hours of riding. the advice, above, is all good stuff. finding the right ‘fit’ is important – frame size, seat position, and appropriate gearing – for a more pleasurable experience and less aches and pains as one pushes the exercise envelop. a trip to your local bike shop may be in order, to let them ask you questions which will help narrow down the choices. hybrid bikes are okay if you plan on limited miles. a cyclocross design bike offers a lot of versatility for road or off road use and provides a more efficient ride.</p>
<p>don’t avoid bike shops just because you think you’ll be wasting their time. as a former employee of a large shop we enjoyed nothing more than talking to folks about bikes, whether they bought one from us or not. in fact we would often tip them off to other sources. the important thing was promoting biking – all types. good luck.</p>
<p>The Trek Navigator would be a excellent choice in a “comfort” bike. If it’s your size. It retails new for $565.</p>
<p>I would recommend just going to a bike shop and looking at, sitting on, the various styles of bikes: hybrid, comfort, etc. – so that you have a mental image of what they are like.</p>
<p>Is it common for bike shops to also sell some ‘pre-owned’ bikes? If so it might be a good solution for someone just getting into the sport who doesn’t want to spend a lot of money yet wants to get a bike that’s properly adjusted and that might even have some warranty and maybe after riding it a while and figuring out more about what they want they could trade it in for a better, new bike. I just don’t really know if it’s common for bike shops to sell used bikes.</p>
<p>For a real casual rider I can’t see them buying a $300 on up bike when they’ll use it only occasionally and aren’t even sure what they want. Maybe for that rider a less expensive bike from a big box store or used is a better choice as the first bike.</p>
<p>it’s not common for bike shops to carry ‘pre-owned’ bikes, but there are good used bike shops around that will provide some kind of warranty and excellent advice. just depends on where one lives. one can always google ‘used bike shops’ and find some, possibly local, options. the great thing about decent quality bikes is they will last forever. three of my five bikes are over 30 years old (my everyday bike was built in the 70’s) and they were ‘used’ when i purchased them. as with all used products, one can find decent stuff for a fraction of the price of new, and they are quite easy to maintain.</p>
<p>Trek bikes, across the line, are good bikes but i must caution against many ‘big box’ bikes b/c they’re made with inferior parts and will only frustrate anyone truly interested in bicycling – uncomfortable ride and difficult to impossible to repair.</p>
<p>helmet wear is, indeed, wise. also bright clothing if one is riding on the road.</p>
<p>The bike shops we’ve used have all had pre-owned bikes. I think it is important to get the right size. I agree that a hybrid sounds like a good option for you.</p>